Mood Setting

I shot this image on a street corner at a local farmer's market. There were a lot of trees which created quite a dappled lighting situation, especially on the steel guitarist. To offeset this mottled look, I cropped in real tight on a square format and did a major tone down because this guitarist was playing sort of a haunting blues tune and it seemed to fit the mood I remember.

Of course, never being able to leave well enough alone, I played with a little ortonizing to really soften the mood. Forest and trrees dilemma as I have seen it too much to be a good self-critic. Which do you all like best (or if at all) and why?

Re: Mood Setting

I like #2 better as the darkening has removed some of the distractions in the background and put the focus more on the neck of the lapsteel he's playing.Very cool photo any way you look at it though.Great photo Chris.

Re: Mood Setting

Chris

I like the lighting on the second one, but i don't like it so much as the first, because it throws the guy's left-hand too much out of focus for me. My mind is telling me that because that left hand is such an important part of the music making, I want/need to see it more in focus. Even in the first one, it's just on the edge of 'in-focus enough'.

So the second one with more depth-of-field would have been, for me the ideal image.

Adjust as necessary but the Color layers are very important and should be 100%.

All duplicates except for the adjustment layer.

Otherwise; just carry on. Very nice image.

I did the screen layers, and multiply and tossed in the luminosity and pin lights but didn't see enough shift to really bother with them. I did the gauss with the inversion layer but not quite so high...will give that a shot later. I am not exactly sure what level of screen you are implying x4. I think I was at about 58% and did x2.

Where the top blank is an adjustment layer for levels on Pin Light blend
and the bottom blank can be anything, in the window pic it is Hard Light.

I might create a photo filter layer on top on yet another color blend, or create another duplicate base then bring to front on Overlay and Inverted with 100p Gauss, varying the opacity to get the exact right effect.

It doesn't take long when you get used to it; my favourite blend is with difference and that mostly ends up being 50% with luminosity 40-60%.
Suppose it could be done easier, clicking on eyes sometimes gives the impression nothing has changed but mostly something has.

Re: Mood Setting

Interesting...I think I am getting to the same place without as many original duplicates, but in the end, I am quite sure I have as many overall layer blends as you, though in a differing order...But, as I am always open to new ideas, I shall work with your program and see where I am the same, and where different and adjust accordingly. Thanks for the workflow idea.

Re: Mood Setting

I tend to agree with Donald, the second is better, but the left hand is too soft - however ...

... actually; isn't it the finger (+ plectrum?) in the right hand here that makes the notes?
Therefore, if it had been shot from the opposite 45 degrees looking back the other way, then with the right hand sharp - wouldn't that have been better?

Re: Mood Setting

I did do some different layering setups on this version, and I think I worked a better sharpening on the left hand as well as keeping the mood I was tring to portray. They were playing a really, almost haunting blues tune and he was really working a high E like JJ Cale does. It was very hard to stop listening, and start shooting.